Reviewed by The Mom Store editorial team, October 2026. See our editorial policy.
A bedtime story is one of the simplest parts of a child's day and one of the most remembered. Once it becomes a routine, children start to expect it and ask for it, and the few minutes with a book replace some of the time that might otherwise go to a screen before bed.
The American Academy of Pediatrics "Brush, Book, Bed" routine puts it in a simple order: brush teeth, read a book together in a comfortable spot, then go to bed at a regular time. The AAP suggests reading aloud for even 15 minutes a day, says it helps language development and social emotional skills, and notes that a predictable routine helps children learn what comes next.
Four story books for different ages
Children's attention spans and tastes change quickly, so the right book depends on age. These are four collections we stock, with the age range given on each product page.
Om Books International Touch and Feel: Bedtime (1 to 3 years)
For toddlers, a story is as much about touching the page as hearing the words. This Touch and Feel Bedtime board book has ten sturdy pages with textures for small hands to explore. Let your toddler turn the pages and feel each texture while you name what is in the picture. You do not have to read every word; talking about the pictures counts. The NHS advice on helping your baby learn to talk says the same: from six months, look at books together and just talk about what you can see.
Dreamland Publications 101 Bedtime Stories (7 to 12 years)
A 64 page illustrated paperback of short, separate stories, so you can read one and stop. The Dreamland 101 Bedtime Stories book suits children who are starting to read on their own; take turns, with your child reading a page and you reading the next.
Om Books International 101 Bedtime Stories (7 to 12 years)
Another 64 page illustrated collection, this one full of fairies, giants, witches, princes and princesses. A good choice for a child who loves fairy tales.
Om Books International 101 Good Night Stories (8 years and above)
Fairy tales and stories of witches, elves and talking animals, including familiar ones like Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella and Ali Baba. The 101 Good Night Stories book suits older children who like classic fairy tales.
Stories you can tell without a book
Some nights there is no time to find the book, or the lights are already off. That is when the stories you grew up with come in handy. Short Panchatantra tales such as The Monkey and the Crocodile, The Loyal Mongoose, The Tortoise and the Geese and The Four Friends take only a few minutes, and each has a clear lesson about friendship, trust or thinking before you act. Grandparents often know versions that are not in any book, so ask them to tell one on the nights they are around.
Making story time work
- Keep the order the same. Bath or wash, teeth, story, lights out. Children settle more easily when they know what is coming.
- Let your child choose, even if it is the same book every night for a month. Many children love hearing a favourite again and again, and that is fine.
- Use voices and pauses. Change your voice for each character and stop to ask, "What do you think happens next?"
- Make up your own. The AAP suggests making up stories and using silly voices. A story about a child very like yours, going on a small adventure, often becomes a favourite.
- Set a limit. One story or two short ones, agreed in advance, saves a nightly negotiation.
Questions parents ask
How do I tell a bedtime story well?
Pick a story that matches your child's age and interests, use expressive voices, and invite your child to join in by guessing what happens or finishing a familiar line. Keep it calm towards the end so the story winds down rather than winds up.
Are audiobooks or ebooks fine for bedtime?
Audiobooks can be a handy option on nights you are away or unwell, and older children often enjoy them. The AAP routine is built around reading a book aloud together, so keep that as the main habit and use audio as an occasional extra.
